Can-opener.



L. E. HOLMES.

CAN OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1913.

1,088,578. Patented Feb. 24, 1m

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LORING- EVERETT HOLMES, 0F ROBBINSTON, MAINE, ASSIGNO R TO HOLMES COMPANY, OF ROBBINSTON, MAINE.

CAN-OPENER.

resents.

Application filed June 13, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

do it known that I, LOPJNG E. Homins, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Rohbinston, in the county of ashington and State of Maine, have invented anew and improved Can-Opener, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to tools or implement for opening tin cans of fruit, vegetables or the like.

Among the objects of the invention is to produce a tool of a simple and comparatively cheap construction which is not only easy and reliable of operation, but also which is not likely to damage the contents of the can or receptacle being acted upon.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the drawings forming a part of this specification in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating the relation of the tool to the can or box when the tool is being introduced preliminary to the opening operation; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the second stage or the position into which the opener is moved ready for the next step; Fig. 3 shows the third stage and indicating the opening operation being effected along the edge of the can in the general direction indicated by the arrow, the figure also indicating the tool turned around on the axis of the shank to an angle of approximately 90 degrees from the position shown in Fig. 2; Figs. 1, 2 and 8 are detailed views showing the tool in side elevation according to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 respectively; Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the pronged portion of the tool; and Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4:.

A tool made in accordance with this invention and as illustrated is preferably made of a good quality of steel wire, but I wish itto be understood that the material and the precise design or appearance of the tool may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

At 10 is shown a tin box or the like to be opened and the slitting or cutting may be done along any portion thereof by the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

Serial No. 773,454.

use of the tool herein set forth, such cutting usually being done along the edge.

The tool compr1ses a handle 11, a shank 12 and a pair of prongs 13 and 1 In the preferred manner of forming the tool, said prongs constitute a continuatlon of the shank 12 being formed from the same piece or bar of metal. 'lhe handle is formed preferably of the same material as the shank and is bent into a flat ellipse and constitutes substantially a T-head for the shank having one portion extending as far to one side of the axis of the shank as the corresponding other portion extends to the oppo site side thereof. The prong 13 is longer than the other prong and is provided with a sharp point 13 and a front cutting edge 13*. The said point and cutting edge lie substantially in the plane of the inner face 13 of said prong, and this plane extends in the same general direction as the axis of the shank 12 but at a slight acute angle thereto, as shown in Fig. 4. The prong 14 is similar in form to the upper portion of the prong 13, but instead of having a sharp point for the purpose of penetrating the tin lid, it is provided with a square end 14 and a comparatively sharp or square lower corner or shoulder 14 which is adapted to grip the upper surface of the tin and indent the same while serving as a fulcrum during the operation of the tool, thereby preventing slipping or backward movement of the tool. Fig. 3 indicates the character of the action upon the metal in the formation of the slit or cut 15 formed by the cutting edge 13 and also the indentures 16 formed by the square shoulder 1 1 above described.

The operation of this can opener may be briefly described as follows: The can being held upon a table by the left hand, the tool will be grasped as indicated in Fig. 1 and the point of the prong 13 is forced directly downwardly through the tin until the square shoulder 14 comes into contact with the upper surface of the tin, limiting the extent of movement of the sharp prong into the can whereby danger of damage to the goods is prevented. The tool is then tilted rearwardly toward the person to an angle of about 45 degrees to the plane of the can top, the fore finger being located transversely of the tool and behind the T-head of the handle, and the thumb occupying a position on the opposite side thereof. In this position the operator gives a succession of combined movements, one being a rotation of the tool around the axis of the shank, force being applied for this purpose to the lateral projections or ends of the T-head whereby great leverage is obtained, and during which movement the point lt of the shorter prong bites or grips into the upper surface of the tin, forming the indent-tires 16 and preventing slipping of the tool. At the same time the tool is given a forward movement substantially in the direction of the arrow 17 or along any other line on which it is de sired to make the slit l5. Ordinarily the shorter prong will act as a guide along the rim of the can top. With the fulcrum or shorter prong acting as above described, power applied to the tool to cause its rotation will easily result in the slitting upwardly of the can along the line indicated. During the rotation of the tool the finger operates upwardly and the thumb down wardly. On the backward rotation of the tool, in order to make a fresh cut, the tool is forced forwardly causing the point or square shoulder 14* to take a new hold on the metal at a point in advance of the previous fulcrum point.

Havin thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The herein described can opener comprising a shank, a handle at one end of the shank extending laterally in opposite directions from the axis of the shank, whereby the shank is rotated around its axis and a pair of prongs at the opposite end of the shank, the prongs having their axes lying in the same plane, one of the prongs having a sharp point and a sharp cutting edge, said edge being substantially parallel to but spaced from and directed laterally away from the plane of the prong axes, and the other prong being shorter than the first mentioned prong and being provided with a square end and a gripping shoulder at the lower extremity of said end serving as a gripping fulcrum when the tool is rotated around the axis of the shank by the manipulation of said handle, substantially as set forth.

2. The herein described can opener comprising an integral structure including a shank, a handle extending transversely of the axis of the shank at one end thereof, whereby the shank is rotated around its axis, and a pair of prongs at the lower end of the shank having their axes lying in the same plane, said prongs having opposed inner plane faces, one of said prongs having a sharp penetrating point and a sharp straight cutting edge substantially parallel to but spaced from and directed laterally away from the plane of the prong axes, said point and edge lying substantially in the plane of the inner face of the prong which contains them, and the other prong having a square lower end and a substantially square corner at the rear extremity of said end, the latter mentioned prong being shorter than the sharp pointed prong and serving to limit the extent of penetration thereof through the metal, and said square corner serving as a gripping fulcrum during the rotation of the tool around the axis of the shank, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LORING EVERETT HOLMES.

"Witnesses MARGARET E. MALONEY, GLAnYs MINGO.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

